G.J.C.M.P.,Vol.3(4):196-200 (July-August, 2014) ISSN: 2319 – 7285 PROBLEMS FACED BY THE PASSENGERS OF INDIAN RAILWAYS- A STUDY IN SALEM DIVISION OF SOUTHERN RAILWAY ZONE G.Rajeshwari1 & Dr. D. Elangovan 2 1PhD research scholar (regular), Hindustan College of arts and science, Department of Commerce,Behind Nava India, Avanashi Road, Coimbatore -641028, Tamil Nadu, India. 2 Associate Professor, Department of commerce, Hindustan College of arts and science,Behind Nava India, Avanashi Road, Coimbatore -641028, Tamil Nadu, India. Abstract The Indian Railways is an amazing example of successful government run enterprise not only in India but also for the whole world. Indian Railways remained as energy efficient transport mode ideally suited for long distance travel as well as perfect suited for bulk mode of transport. Indian Railways is one of the biggest transporters of passengers' traffic in the world. The provision of passenger amenities is one of the important objectives of the Indian Railways both as business ethic and social obligation. The study highlights the problems faced by the passengers while reserving tickets, on boarding the train and while travelling in the train in Salem Division of Southern Railway Zone. A sample of 500 passengers is drawn using stratified random sampling technique from the major junctions of Salem Division of Southern Railway Zone. Average rank analysis is the tool used to analyse the problems faced by the passengers. Key words: problems, passengers and railways. Introduction The transport sector bears a close and complex relationship with all the other sectors of a country's economy. Thus an efficient transport system is the yardstick of an economy (Padam S). Raghuram and Rachana Gangwar (2000) describes the Indian Railways is among one of the largest and oldest rail transportation systems in the world, more than 150 years old, fondly called by people as the “Lifeline of the Nation”. It occupies a unique position in the socioeconomic map of the country and is considered as a vehicle and barometer of growth (Da Costa, F. (1987). India has a large network of railways throughout the country. We have trains from one corner of India to the other corner. Total length of the railway tracks in India is about 63000 kilometres. About 7800 trains carry about eleven million passengers to their destinations every day. Our railway network is the largest in Asia and the second largest in the world. The Indian Railway helps to unite the integral, social, economical, and cultural foundation of the country. The services offered by the Indian Railways need to be improved to satisfy the passengers. Since, the customers prefer to travel by train; there is a very good demand for the rail service. If the Indian Railways properly assess the problems and inconveniences of the passengers and deliver the service according to their expectation, it will be the most profitable public sector undertaking in India. Hence the present study has made an attempt to analyse the problems faced by the passengers of Indian railways. Review of Literature John Gabriel and Suresh Babu (2005) examined the efficiency of passenger reservation services, whether the existing system of railway reservation is really efficient in satisfying the needs of the travelling public and whether any change or alteration in the existing system could bring about a perceptible improvement of the services. They found that the railway was the only organisation providing maximum passenger reservation services to the travelling public efficiently and effectively. Arvind Brame, (2007), “Customer Complaints”. According to Arvind Brame, customer complaints are a universal phenomenon, with the airline industry being no exception. Handling of complaints is the core activity for successful development. The author found that 56% of the customers are lost due to the short comings in customer service. He concluded stressing that there is a need for awareness and positive attitude and approach among staff to win the customer and customers’ confidence to curb growing complaints. Objective of the Study 1. To analyze the problems faced by the passengers while reserving the tickets, on boarding the train and while travelling in the train. 2. To offer suggestions to improve the services of Indian railways. Sampling Design and Methodology The present study is an empirical research based on survey method. The present study is confined to Salem Division of Southern Railway Zone. Stratified random sampling technique is used to draw samples from the major railway junctions of Salem division of Southern Railway Zone. The sample passengers are mobile population and they remain 196 G.J.C.M.P.,Vol.3(4):196-200 (July-August, 2014) ISSN: 2319 – 7285 busy in reaching their platforms, listing to announcement, making enquiry and looking at display charts. Hence, the sample size is chosen as 500 and it is considered to be adequate and representative. Data Collection The present study is largely based on primary data. Primary and secondary data are used in the present study. The required primary data are collected using pre-tested and well structured questionnaire. The required secondary data are collected through Annual Reports of Ministry of railways, White paper on Indian railways published by Railway Ministry, various journals and websites. Data Covered The present study focuses on the problems faced by the passengers such as long queue in the reservation counters, less number of booking counters, bulk booking by travel agencies, slow issue of tickets in the counters, heavy crowd in the platform, frequent change of platform, less halting time due to late arrival of trains, problems of theft, disturbance due to sales persons, nuisance of co-passengers and unauthorised entry in the reserved compartments. Analysis In order to achieve the objectives of the study an analysis is made to understand the problems faced by the passengers of Indian Railways. Average rank analysis is the statistical tool used. Personal factors and problems faced by respondents while reserving tickets The various factors considered under problems faced by the respondents while reserving their tickets are Long queue in the reservation counters - B1 Less number of booking counters - B2 Bulk booking by travel agencies - B3 Tickets are booked immediately when the website is opened especially - B4 during festive occasions Transfer of tickets to another date is not permitted - B5 Frequent failure of server - B6 Slow issue of tickets in the counters - B7 The table 1 describes the results of average rank analysis in terms of personal factors, average rank and final rank on the problems faced by the respondents while reserving tickets. Table 1: Average rank -Personal factors and Problems faced by the respondents while reserving tickets Problems faced by the B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 respondents while reserving tickets Personal factors Gender Male AR 3.83 3.84 2.90 2.91 3.79 4.97 5.50 FR 4 5 1 2 3 6 7 Female AR 3.60 3.64 3.22 4.04 3.86 4.74 4.66 FR 2 3 1 5 4 7 6 Age (years) Less than 20 AR 2.63 2.83 3.13 5.50 3.50 4.87 4.37 FR 1 2 3 7 4 6 5 20-30 AR 3.88 3.99 2.58 2.77 4.08 5.20 5.50 FR 3 4 1 2 5 6 7 30-40 AR 3.77 3.84 3.37 3.92 3.70 4.43 4.71 FR 3 4 1 5 2 6 7 40 and above AR 4.14 2.86 4.21 1.71 3.79 5.50 5.79 FR 4 2 5 1 3 6 7 Educational No formal education AR 2.00 3.00 1.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 4.00 qualification FR 2 3 1 5 6 7 4 School level AR 3.67 3.91 2.91 2.92 3.47 5.15 5.14 FR 4 5 1 2 3 7 6 College level AR 3.71 3.56 3.00 3.62 4.10 4.84 5.18 FR 4 2 1 3 5 6 7 Others(experience and self AR 4.03 4.13 4.13 4.41 3.22 3.75 4.34 interest) FR 3 4 4 7 1 2 6 Occupational Agriculture AR 2.75 2.75 1.50 5.00 4.50 6.25 5.00 status FR 2 2 1 5 4 7 5 Business/Professional AR 4.19 3.77 3.83 3.04 3.16 4.49 5.34 FR 5 3 4 1 2 6 7 Employed AR 4.11 4.15 1.92 3.21 4.50 4.90 5.11 FR 3 4 1 2 5 6 7 Others (home maker, AR 2.07 3.21 4.14 4.76 3.95 5.00 4.14 student, retired employee ) FR 1 2 4 6 3 7 4 It is found from table 1 that the respondents irrespective of their personal classifications have given top priority towards bulk booking by agencies followed by tickets are booked immediately when the website is opened especially during festive occasions, long queue in the reservation counters and so on as the problems faced while reserving tickets. 197 G.J.C.M.P.,Vol.3(4):196-200 (July-August, 2014) ISSN: 2319 – 7285 It is concluded that the majority of the respondents have given high priority towards bulk booking by agencies as the problems faced while reserving tickets. Personal factors and problems faced by the respondents in boarding the train The various factors considered under problems faced by the respondents in boarding the train are Heavy crowd in the platform - C1 Frequent change of platform - C2 Less space to walk in the platform - C3 Less halting time due to late arrival of trains - C4 Vendor movement - C5 The table 2 describes the results of average rank analysis in terms of personal factors, average rank and final rank on the problems faced by the respondents in boarding the train.